Monday, April 29, 2013

So, I must say I am not a scarf person. Or, at least, I was not in the past. I wear a scarf during the winter if I'm outside for any length of time, but that is about it. Recently however, I received a Fraas Scarf for review, and I have had so much fun finding new ways to accessorize with just a "simple" scarf! I was able to choose a scarf from the Mystical Waters line, and I opted for the Turquoise, simply because I wear so much blue-honestly I thought both color options were simply gorgeous!

When the scarf arrived, I was so impressed and pleased with the fabric. It is designed for spring/summer wear, so it's very lightweight. Not only is it light, it's also super soft, and I guarantee this is one scarf that will never itch, scratch, or otherwise frustrate the wearer! I have tried this a couple different ways, and really like both of them-I'm very excited to try out some new wearing styles too!

It pairs well with many of my outfits (goes great with a denim skirt) and I have actually started looking for new tops that will offer more opportunities to wear my Fraas scarf! The scarf is nice and big, so you can double it if you want it smaller, or use it as a sash around your waist-I tried this, and it looks great!

If you want to add some color and style to your spring/summer wardrobe, I suggest you start with a Fraas Scarf. This single piece can change up your look in so many ways, and add flair and pop to any outfit!

Water gardens are quite popular for
backyard decorating, and they offer the benefit of less maintenance than a fish
pond. Your plants will stay beautiful in their zen setting, and neighborhood
cats won’t come over to feast on them. Since your plants are already in water,
they require less attention than a normal garden. Plus, they look stunning
showcased in your backyard, providing a unique element of beauty and escape.

Important Supplies

The most important supply you’ll need
is a good pond liner.Pond
liners come in a variety of sizes and weights,
and they are relatively inexpensive but oh-so important. A pond liner will keep
the water in the right place and prevent it from soaking into the dirt around
the pond, which would create a muddy mess. You’ll want to make sure your liner
is the right size and strength.

A good pond liner should have a
guarantee of lasting a number of years, so you’ll know that you don’t have to
empty and re-line the pond every summer. Put a lot of work into making sure
your pond is set up well, so you’ll only have to minor maintenance on it each
summer, with the major maintenance coming only about once every decade. You’ll
also want to purchase a pond filter, which will keep the water from becoming
stagnant.

Choose the Right Plants

Talk to a gardening expert at a local
store or nursery to be sure that the plants you’d like fit your lifestyle and
design aesthetic. It’s easy to look on the internet for photos of plants you
love, but before you spend a lot on them, make sure they are options that will
adapt well to your lifestyle. If you’re not at home a lot, or if your kids tend
to take up a lot of your time, it’s best to go with low-maintenance plants,
even if they aren’t as stunningly beautiful as other plants you’d like. If
you’re unable to maintain some of the plants, they won’t look as nice anyway.

Stage It

You’ll want to take a look at your
backyard and strategically think through everything you use it for. If you need
space for kids to play and space for grilling and entertaining, factor all
those needs into your decision of where to set up the pond and how big it
should be. Once you’ve determined the size, decide what types of staging
elements you’d like around it, such as rocks, bird baths, fountains, mosaics,
or benches. You may be able to find some of these items inexpensively at garage
sales or second-hand stores to save some money.

Paige One writes about a variety of
topics, including summer entertaining!

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

What would you say if I told you that there was a fitness program that would work-for any body and every body? I'd probably get mostly "Yeah right", or "uh-huh". It seems like most, if not all, exercise programs, are designed for a specific group or type of people, and if you don't fit in there-then you have to search for a program that will work for you. However, this is not the case with Dana Pieper, creator of EveryBody Fitness-the fitness routine that is literally designed to work for everybody!I received 2 of Dana's DVD's for review; Kickbox Challenge, and Total Conditioning. I'll start by saying that the kickboxing challenge is my favorite, simply because I love martial arts and anything even distantly related to them, but both of these programs are excellent!

Kickboxing Challenge is a fun and exciting routine that takes you through various punches and kicks including jab, uppercut, hooks, roundhouse kicks (my favorite!) and much more. You're kept moving at a fast pace that will burn calories and strengthen and tone your body, but at the same time you are having fun! Yes, it is a tough workout, and you may need to work at one of the lower intensity levels, as demonstrated by other instructors on the dvd. But, that's why this is EveryBody Fitness-because no matter your current fitness level, and no matter your goals, you can do Dana Pieper's Kickbox Challenge!

Total Body Conditioning is a 1-hour program that delivers...well...a complete body workout! There are strength and cardio segments, and you'll use resistance bands, weights and a stability ball as you move through. I love the plyometrics, as these are highly recommended for people involved in martial arts. And, Dana also adds in some kickboxing, so that's a lot of fun too!To learn more about Dana Pieper and her unique fitness program, or to order dvd's, you can visit the Everybody Fitness website.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

I have to admit, living in Florida sounds pretty good right about now! Between the weather not being able to stay either cold or normal spring temperatures, and then the enormous amount of rain we've been getting the past few days, I would jump at the chance to be in Florida! Of course, as soon as the weather turned real hot down there, I'd want to be back up here, so I guess I'll just stay where I am. I did live in Florida for several years when I was younger though, and overall it is a pretty nice place to live. So, if you live in Florida and are looking to move into a new home, or maybe you are planning a move to Florida, be sure to look at FL New Homes before you move.Personally, if I was going to move back to Florida, I would prefer to be in the northern part (near the Alabama border, so around Destin, Pensacola area) or down in central Florida near Ocala, Lake Mary area. As much as I enjoy some of the Orlando area attractions, Orlando traffic is not something I would want to deal with on a regular basis! So, if you live somewhere within a 1-2 hour drive from SeaWorld and Disney, I figure that would be just about perfect. Close enough to visit regularly, but not too close to Orlando! That's just my thoughts though; really most of Florida is a lovely place, and I have many great memories of living there.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Have any of my mothers ever heard of Mombo, by Comfort and Harmony? If you nursed your baby, then you are probably familiar with the concept of a nursing pillow-a special pillow, designed especially for use during nursing. Well, I recently learned about a new product called Firm2Soft, by Mombo. It is a one-of-a-kind nursing pillow, with 2 sides. One side is more firm, for extra support during nursing. The other side is super soft and comfoy, for just about any time baby needs a pillow! It also is the only nursing pillow that features a vibration, for a nice, soothing experience for baby. Sounds like something any nursing mother would want, huh? Good news-Mombo products are available at Toys R Us and Babies R Us! You can also check out and follow the Mombo makers, Comfort & Harmony on Twitter.

Seriously, I will be recommending the mombo nursing pillow to all my nursing and expectant mommy friends. These seem like such the perfect tool to make feeding time easier and more comfortable for both mommy and baby. They are available in a few different colors too; you can choose from standard, deluxe or nude styles, and then choose your slipcover design from there. The Mombo nursing pillow would make a great gift for a baby shower too!

So, if you need more information about Mombo, or just want to see how it works, or find customer reviews, you can find Comfort & Harmony on Facebook.

Anybody still looking for the perfect Mother's Day gift? I can't believe how fast this year has gone; seems like we were just celebrating the new year, and now it's already almost Mother's Day! However, there's no need to frantically search for the perfect gift for your mom, because Mary Kay has got you covered!

I received a sampling of products from Mary Kay for review, and I thoroughly enjoyed trying them all. My box of goodies contained TimeWise Matte Foundation, Mineral Highlighting Powder, Brush Cleaner, Brush Collection, Makeup Finishing Spray, and the new Zen in Bloom collection! I have to admit, I'm not a huge makeup fan. Most times it just looks fake, and it's very obvious that you're wearing makeup. If I choose to wear anything, I want it to look natural, and not the first thing people notice about me! I really enjoy all of these new products though, and love how it looks natural.

The TimeWise Matte Wear Foundation is simply amazing. It blends right into my skin, and provides a great cover. It quickly transforms your skin from dull and lifeless to beautiful, and lasts all day. The Mineral Highlighting Powder comes in 2 shade sets, and I received the Pink Stardust. This is a duo, with Pink Stardust Shimmer, and Shimmer, which is a shimmery white. This can be used for eyeliner, or as an all-over highlight. I prefer using it for a facial "glow", and love that you decide how bright or obvious it is. Especially with having 2 shades to work with, you can create a custom shade to fit your needs.

The Makeup Spray is really the perfect finishing touch, as it keeps your makeup looking fresh for hours on end. You might think this would make removal harder, but it really doesn't! It dries quickly, and is so lightweight you don't even know it's there-except for the fact that your makeup still looks freshly applied hours later! Here are before-and-after shots, just using the TimeWise Foundation, Mineral Highlighting Powder, and Finishing Spray.

Before

After

The Zen in Bloom Collection comes in a cute little clutch, and includes the Garden Sky Eye Color, Blue Lotus and Pink Bamboo Nail Lacquer, and Pink Pagoda Lip Lacquer. I usually don't use anything around the eyes, but I did apply some just to try it out. I like that I can add some shimmer and highlights without a bright, bold, "look-at-me" kind of look. It's very pretty and feminine, and is perfect for spring colors!

The nail lacquers both make me think of spring too. I wasn't sure how I would like blue fingernails, as I usually opt for a pale pink, but to my surprise, I think they look nice! And, to complete the look, add a touch of spring shine to your lips with the Pink Pagoda Lip Lacquer. This is a lighter shade that can be deepened by adding more layers. It really adds shine and depth to your lips!Check out all of these and more great Mother's Day gift ideas from Mary Kay today!

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Okay, I have to admit something here. This was my first time ever eating at a Planet Hollywood, but it was probably my favorite meal of our entire trip to Florida! See, I'm not real big into Hollywood, movies, tv, etc. Yes, I have a few movies that I enjoy watching, but I aways thought that Planet Hollywood would only appeal to those who were more into movies and such. But, when offered the opportunity to bring the family to the Planet Hollywood located in Downtown Disney, I agreed.

Upon arrival, we all had our picture taken in front of the restaurant-the photographer joked that this was so they had pictures if a customer ran out on their bill :) Inside, we were greeted by the hostess, and brought to a seat almost immediately. We showed up a few minutes before the lunch rush so it was pretty quiet as far as other patrons, but we soon learned that this wouldn't last-Planet Hollywood is a very popular place to eat!

Our server, Tee, was super-friendly and honestly made the experience very pleasant. She was so helpful with all of our questions, made some recommendations, and was really just the picture of a perfect waitress. She got us all started off with a beverage, and suggested we try the VIP Platter, an appetizer that gives you a sampling of their Chicken Crunch, Buffalo Wings, Texas Tostados, and Spinach Dip. If you ever eat at PH, be sure to try the Spinach dip-it is amazing.

It took us several minutes to decide on our order, but Tee patiently waited and helped with our decisions. I chose the NY Strip Steak, which comes with mashed potatoes and sauteed veggies. C and E both tried different pasta meals, and M ordered a bacon cheeseburger, so we had some of almost everything. When the food arrived, to say we were surprised is an understatement. The portion sizes are big! For example, look at M's burger-she only ate about half of this, and brought the rest home for a snack. I was surprised she could even get her mouth around it!

Little M's Cheesesteak

My steak was just perfect. Cooked exactly right, and served with some very tasty mashed potatoes, I really enjoyed this meal. The sauteed veggies were great too. Again, there was more than enough to fill, so I even shared a few bites with those who ordered something other than steak.

C and E, both of them big pasta eaters, were very pleased with their meals as well. I believe one had Spaghetti Pomodoro, and the other had the Homemade Manicotti, but don't quote me on that.

Just when we thought our meal was drawing to a close and we couldn't possibly eat any more, Tee asked if we would like dessert. It was a hard choice, but when I saw a picture of their Banana Split, I said yes please! I am a sucker for sweets, especially when it involves ice cream and/or chocolate! M and M decided to split a Chocolate Cake dessert, and D ordered a "transformers" Smoothie, which is a blend of mango, raspberry, orange and banana. It was a good thing we were all sharing the desserts, because with how full we already were, there was no way any one of us could have finished a dessert by ourselves. It was delicious though, and the perfect way to finish our meal.

Aside from the food, I was very impressed with the restaurant overall. The manager came by to make sure we were doing okay, and a couple other servers came by routinely to check on drinks and see if we needed anything else. The decor is pretty neat, with a lot of old pictures, props, etc. The only thing I didn't care for was to the side of our table they had a large tv screen playing movie trailers and trivia. That in itself didn't bother me, but a couple of the clips they played were not exactly family-oriented, so if we eat at a Planet Hollywood again, I will be sure to ask for seating away from the screen. However, we did fully enjoy our experience at Planet Hollywood, and the food is absolutely delicious!

Herbie!!

Disclaimer: I was not monetarily compensated in any way for this review. I did receive complimentary dining in exchange for a review. I was not required to post favorably about the company or restaurant; all thoughts and opinions are mine. All quotes (in italics) taken from the Planet Hollywood website.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Hey everyone, do you have any thoughts on the Samsung Galaxy S4? I have checked out a lot of reviews, announcements, and details about this new phone, and it looks like it will be a great little device. I have a Samsung Galaxy tablet, and I totally love it; it's easy to navigate, has plenty of fun and useful apps, and really does everything you could need-except make phone calls. That's why I think the Samsung Galaxy S4 would be so good; it's like having my awesome little tablet, with some really great additions, like actually being able to make and receive phone calls, and all in a smaller size!

One thing I have seen a lot of hype about is the Galaxy S4's camera; a 13 megapixel camera on a cellphone! This is right up my alley, as the first thing I look at when getting a new phone, is the camera. I can only imagine having that high-quality camera on my phone!

So, are you planning on getting the Galaxy S4? Even though it hasn't been released yet (I believe it's supposed to be out sometime next week) I actually found a site with some Samsung Galaxy S4 cases and other accessories, so if you are planning on upgrading to this nifty phone, be sure to have all the accessories you'll need!

Okay, serious question here-have any of my readers ever vacationed in the Bahamas? A couple years ago my sister and I had been planning a cruise vacation, which included some stops in the Bahamas. Unfortunately it did not work out, but that has certainly not kept me from dreaming! In fact, I am trying to talk C into going on the cruise next year, so we will see what happens.Of course, there is always the option of not going on a cruise, and just taking a little vacation in the Bahamas-guaranteed they have much nicer weather than what we're experiencing right now! I even found Island Properties Bahamas, which lists properties for rent and for sale in the Bahamas. Whether you're looking for a condo, a home, or a beautiful villa, they can help you find the perfect place for your home away from home.

I mean some on, who would not want to take a small vacation (or maybe not so small :) in the gorgeous paradise of the Bahamas? I've talked to many friends who have visited, and all I hear is rave reviews. The weather is beautiful, the water is perfect, and the entire atmosphere makes every day feel like a holiday. Definitely on my list of places to visit someday!

Thursday, April 18, 2013

How many of my readers use organic baby food? If you do, then you're probably familiar with NurturMe, the first (and from what I understand, the only) producer of certified-organic dried fruit and veggie baby meals! The big news is that NurturMe has recently expanded their line, , introducing a 100% Quinoa Rice Cereal Alternative, and new Organic Dry Meal Pouches. Additionally, in May, they will be introducing new Yum-A-Roos, bite sized organic dried veggie and fruit snacks for toddlers! There's a whole new world of organic baby food coming your way!

I have to admit; not having an infant, I was not very familiar with NurturMe-I had heard of the company, but didn't really know much about their products. So, for anyone else in the same situation, here's a little something from their website:"A revolution in feeding little ones, NurturMe is the first and only family of certified-organic, dried fruit and veggie meals and snacks created for children 4 months to 4 years. The first “stage-free” food for little ones, NurturMe’s line of organic dry NurturMeal pouches and Yum-a-Roo’s dried fruit and veggie snacks were designed to meet every yummy need, from infants to toddlers, and everywhere in between. NurturMeals and Yum-a-Roo’s are certified organic, gluten-free*, non-GMO and kosher, with no added preservatives, sugars or salts – only the good stuff. All NurturMe products are made from specially selected super fruits and veggies that are lovingly harvested and quick-dried in order to preserve freshness, flavor and nutrients."Definitely something I will be recommending to my friends with infants. NurturMe even has a recipe section where you can find all kinds of yummy recipes for your little ones, like this Banana Smoothie recipe.

Now, for even more exciting news-NurturMe is offering a wonderful giveaway pack for my readers!

Wow, you would not believe the storm we had yesterday, and all through last night! It started out with just a dreary, rainy morning, but that quickly turned into a pretty nasty storm through the afternoon. When we headed out to Tae Kwon Do yesterday it had slowed down some, but by 9:00 last night it was raging full force again. All during the night I awoke to lightning flashes, and thunder so loud it was literally shaking the bed. This morning it is still drizzling a little, but the sun is out, and thankfully we had no flash floods or lightning strikes! Anyways, today I wanted to discuss, for a few minutes, Floor Coating; more specifically, Floor Coating Chicago. What exactly is floor coating? you ask. Well, basically it is a way to extend the life of your cement flooring. This is perfect for garage floors; adding this coating will reduce dirt and debris, and it is liquid-resistant. The epoxy coat will protect your floor from grease, oil, dirt...even UV damage! It is also stain resistant, so your floor will stay looking good for a long time. This works well for older garage floors as well, as it will hide those ugly cracks and oil stains. With something as simple as a floor coating, you can turn your garage into a lovely part of your home, instead of an area you hate looking at!

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Okay, I am not much for e-readers. I personally prefer the feel of a hard book in my hands, and would rather turn a page than swipe my finger across the screen of an e-reader. However, when given the opportunity to review the Spurgeon Series (1855-1856) I decided to go for it, simply because I absolutely love Spurgeon's writings. With over 1700 pages, I quickly realized the benefits of having this loaded onto my little tablet, rather than trying to lug around who-knows-how-many volumes!

I had downloaded the book a couple weeks ago, but really got to enjoy it this past weekend, when we took a road trip. Visiting a city about 5 hours away for a few days meant a lot of time in the car, and I spent quite a bit of that time reading the Spurgeon Series. This includes Charles Spurgeon's sermons from 1855-1856, and they have been updated into a more modern language for easier understanding. Personally, I kind of wish it had been left in the original language, as I read many books from the 1700-1800's, and have no trouble with the language differences. However, I know why they do this, for many people who aren't familiar with it. Aside from that though, I have nothing but good things to say about the Spurgeon Series! As I read through this book (I don't think I'm even 1/3 of the way through yet, but I'm enjoying the journey :) I am amazed at the depth of knowledge Spurgeon had. Coupled with a deep love for the Lord and for people, I can not say enough just how wonderful this book is, and how grateful I am to be able to read these sermons, preached some 150 years ago, on my tablet! We truly have been blessed with our modern technology, and I appreciate people such as Larry and Marion Pierce, who go to the effort of making these easily accessible for everyone. Now you don't have to pay out a lot of money to buy Surgeon's Sermon series in multiple volumes; you can simply download it to your tablet, and start reading, learning and enjoying right away!Disclaimer: I received a free book from New Leaf Publishing Group for review. I was not monetarily compensated in any way. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

Okay, so I've discussed this on here a couple times. I've been thinking about it for quite a while. And I finally decided to just do it. We're starting a new feature on Hope's Cafe called Tasty Tuesday!! Tasty Tuesday will be a weekly post sharing a new recipe I've tried, or maybe an old family favorite. I'll include pictures, and the recipe (so you can try it if you want). I'll also be adding a linky at the bottom of the post, and if you have a blog with great recipes, or if you found a good recipe on another blog, please link it up! We're starting this out as a weekly feature, and I hope to keep it that way. If it gets to be too much, I'll change it to every other week, but hopefully that won't happen. So, for the first ever Tasty Tuesday, I'd like to share a great recipe I just discovered a few weeks ago, that has already earned many compliments and requests for more.

Andes Mint CupcakesIngredients:Cupcakes-

2 cups sugar

1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup HERSHEY’S Cocoa

1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup boiling water

30 Andes mints for garnish

Filling-

1/2 cup chocolate chips

3 tablespoons heavy cream

1 teaspoon peppermint extract

1/3 cup powdered sugar

Mint Buttercream Frosting-

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, softened to room temperature

4 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature

16 ounces powdered sugar (about 3 1/2 - 4 cups)

1/4 cup heavy cream

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon peppermint extract

Green food coloring

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. Grease muffin tin, or line with paper muffin cups.

In large bowl, stir sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add eggs, milk, oil, vanilla. Use an electric mixer and beat on medium for 1-2 minutes. Stir in boiling water-this will make a thin batter. Fill muffin cups about 2/3 full, bake for 18-20 minutes. Do not overbake! Let cupcakes cool while making filling and frosting.

Filling-Stir chocolate chips and heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat for 1 minute on medium power. Stir again, reheat for 30 seconds, and stir. Continue until mixture is smooth. Add peppermint extract and powdered sugar, whisk until smooth. Let cool, then pour into a frosting deco bag, or frosting pen (I use the Kuhn-Rikon Deco Pen). Once cupcakes are completely cooled, insert the tip of your pen or bottle into the center of cupcake. Squeeze gently to fill.

Frost the filled cupcakes with a knife, spatula, or a large-tipped decorator. Top with an Andes Mint. Refrigerate leftovers (if you have any :) And yes, they taste great cold!

These are super delicious, and while it may seem like a lot of work, with 3 steps, it really isn't. I don't know if I have ever made anything that received the amount of raves these cupcakes did, so be prepared to be very popular when you present them to family or friends!Please join in the Tasty Tuesday fun by sharing a recipe post-whether it's your blog, or a great dish you found elsewhere, feel free to share!

I love finding accessories and such for all my electronics. Especially when I have a hard time finding exactly what I want; when I suddenly find a website or company that has it, I am that much more excited! Such is the case (no pun intended) with this review. I have had a Samsung Galaxy Tablet since early September, and wasn't able to find the perfect case for quite a while. Everything I found was either too big (for the 10" tablet) or didn't have the features I wanted. Until I was given the opportunity to choose an item from MobileFun, and discovered they had several Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 cases to pick from!

I received the Capdase Folio Case for Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 for my review, and I have been so happy with my choice! This is the perfect case, and has everything I wanted in a tablet case! Because it is designed especially for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, it has cut outs for all the buttons and such on my tablet. Volume, power, headphone jacks, camera, etc. are all easily accessible.

The case fits perfectly around the tablet, and I feel so secure knowing my tablet is protected. Instead of just having a sleeve around it, now the device is safe even while I'm using it! The folio covers it while not in use, and can be folded back during use. Or, you can convert the flap into a stand, at 2 different angles!

I also like the built-in hand strap, so rather than just holding my tablet, I can slip my hand through the strap and know it's not going to fall out of my hand.

I have seriously received so many compliments and questions about the case since getting it a couple weeks ago. The folio looks very stylish, black with green trim, and I love carrying and protecting my tablet in style!

Check out Mobile Fun for all your device needs; from iPhone to iPad, Kindle to Laptop, they have just about anything you could ever want or need for your electronics!Disclaimer: I was not monetarily compensated in any way; I did receive product for the purpose of review. All thoughts and opinions are mine.